I'm Back

I'm back. I survived Maryland. I only have one picture because I spent my time taking pictures with other people's cameras. I took pictures of Celtic Queen with Casey and Jess at the Ravelry get together. (Which she hasn't posted yet.) And of Heather and Heather which she did post.
Sunday I realized I had no pictures so I made CQ snap this one of me. I did not purchase any fiber from this vendor, but CQ did. (It has sparkles in it.) I got some roving (some of which I've already spun up, Heather and I met to spin the Monday after Maryland), and some Angelina fiber for blending, a stand for my tri-loom, a double pointed needle holder, and a t-shirt. I bid and lost again on the shawls from the sheep to shawl. I got Heather's boys some stuff too. Her youngest loves red, and spinning with a drop spindle, so I got him some red roving. He was so cute when I gave it to him - he hugged it to him and ran off immediately to put it in his stash! I don't think I even bought any yarn! I was very tempted at Tess', but I had no particular project in mind, so I passed. I guess I'm serious about knitting down the stash! I'll try to post more pics tomorrow of the yarn I'm spinning now, and the rest of the fiber I bought. It's all downstairs right now and I'm too tired to go and get it.

Bleah

In the words of the immortal Hans Solo*, "I feel terrible." I can't decide if I have a cold or a sudden onset of allergies. I'm not really congested, but my coughing is definately caused by a persistent post-nasal drip. So far all my secretions are clear, so it's not an infection. Just a ginormous pain. I had to leave a meeting today because I was coughing so much. Still working like a dog (but did I tell you, the owner of the company came in and saw me slaving away on Sunday?) Sleeping is problematic, as soon as I lay down, I start coughing and choking, but if I prop myself up it hurts my back. I HATE BEING SICK!! Gosh, I hope I feel better by Saturday.

Celtic Queen, you are absolutely correct! That is the Trekking you got me, prominently displayed because I found it in the attic stash when I was up there looking for my Color in Spinning book and decided to use it for my next pair of travelling socks. (Rainbow Noro, then rainbow Trekking. Everyone on the shuttle will think all I ever knit is rainbow socks!) And, you do get what's left. I had to have the brakes fixed on the Wooly Express (aka my minivan) in preparation for Maryland this weekend. When we picked it up, Dave reminded me to drive carefully "just in case."
"If I have a catastrophic brake failure," I said, "make sure the lawsuit covers the boys' college expenses, and give all my yarn stash to CQ."
"Don't worry," he said. "I definately won't be hoarding any yarn." (Hmmmph, see if he gets another sweater!) Then he asked "What about Heather?" (See, Heather, Dave's got your back!)
"CQ will share it with her," I said. Jeesh, was he expecting me to spout off my whole last will and testament? I trust CQ (but you'd better stay on her good side, Heather, just in case.)

*When I typed this out it suddenly struck me "Hans Solo" "Single Hand" as in single handedly saves the day. Duh. Am I the last Star Wars fan in America to make that connection? Ah well, I can't be brilliant all the time, it comes and goes...

The Gauntlet is Thrown

Did you hear it? Back a couple of days ago? Celtic Queen threw down the challenge that I couldn't spin/knit up all my stash in my lifetime. I think I can. I usually don't like to post pictures of my environs, but just so you can see what we're dealing with here, this is one of my smaller stash repositories. (The smallest is in the attic and is really just a clothes basket Dave filled with the overflow from this repository and carted to the attic). This one is what I keep on hand in the bedroom. Most of this is recent purchases. Both the containers are stuffed. There are I think six more containers in the basement and eight more out in the garage. I think I'm going to have to get seriously to work on proving her wrong. Just after I get back from Maryland. (That usually makes most of a container itself every year.)

In our regular State of the Knitter update, my back is much better, I was able to go a whole week without having to take any pain medication. I am however, suffering from a horrible chest cold, as are both the sons, but neither as bad as me. I think I was also maybe a little bit delirious the other day too because I was looking at the light fixture in my bedroom and decided it looked like a mean face. I remember thinking it, and I was so struck by it that I took this picture of it to share on the blog. But for the life of me, I don't see it now.

What do you think? Can you see the mean face? Maybe I'll make this my new avatar on Ravelry.

Remember

Remember when you were a kid and the days were longer? When you had time to walk places? Spend an afternoon laying on your bed reading a good book? Stay up late to watch television after everyone else was asleep? What happened? How did the days get to be so short? An afternoon used to be plenty of time to read a book, play a game of basketball or four square, maybe walk to the store for some candy and still be home for dinner. And then there'd be time for a game of sardines before going to bed. Remember when an hour was a long time? A week was forever. I want those long days back! Seems like I exhale twice and the day is gone now. Anyways, just something I thought of on drive home today (after working another 12+ hours.) They don't pay me enough.

Hello Goodbye

I've been incredibly busy at work. The long and the short of it is that the project I told my boss I would need at least two weeks to set up and 2 weeks to test was handed to me late Monday with a deadline of next Monday. Of course, when we had our original conversation over a month ago I was assured by her that No, I was not going to get this project... So I worked twelve and a half hours yesterday and 14 hours today. And it looks like it's going to be 12 to 14 hour days through next Wednesday, at least. [sigh] So when I went out to move my car (we have free parking, but it's off-site and the lot closes at 7:00, but I can put my car in the on-site lot after 5:00) and grab some dinner a block down the road I ducked into Natural Stitches for a bit of a breather.
Still feeling self-indulgent, I bought myself some superwash roving to make some socks. I probably shouldn't have, because I'll be going to Maryland next week, but I needed a little pick-me-up. Which got me to thinking, exactly how long would it take me to spin/knit up all my stash....

Mod Pods

Friday night I purchased Knitting Nature by Nora Gaughan. I'd been looking at it for awhile, and trying to decide if I wanted it or not. Friday I was feeling a little self-indulgent, so I got it. I love it! I got as far as the first chapter (hexagons) and I had to start knitting. I admit to having a certain fascination with hexagons for quite some time.
Here's my first attempt, knitting from the center out. I ripped this out and decided that maybe the designer knew what she was talking about (you think?) when she knit hers (the Snapping Turtle Skirt) from the outside in. Furthermore, it was a cinch to pick up and knit the next hexagon from the cast-on edge.
So I gathered up some old acrylic from the stash to experiment. I call them Mod Pods. Totally addictive. These will probably be a baby blanket done in 6 x 6 Pods. But, imagine these done with lots of oddballs of sock yarn (looking at you, Heather.) I'm thinking Grandma's Flower Garden here. How cool would that be? And a great stash buster, too. I'll keep you updated with progress.

Card Me

Last week was Heather's birthday, so we had a little party for her at Knitting Knite. (You know me, any excuse to eat baked goods!) So off I went to the store in search of a birthday card....
First up, Pirates! Ok, but not really Heather's style. (But you know, Johnny Depp is nice to look at.) Still, not quite what I was going for.
Next, a round up of cowboys. I definately had to consider these for awhile. But, after some serious observation I decided they weren't quite right, either.
So I moved on to... A birthday Pickle? This really appealed to my quirky sense of humor, but Heather is a bit more mainstream than me. (And it just seemed a little too weird coming right on the heels of the cowboys.)
What else can we find here? How about a princess? Definate possibilities. Heather's a princess, and there are some sparkles on the card... Heather really likes sparkles! But the inscription was just a little too juvenile. So what did I finally settle on?
It's sparkly, and it said some of the nice things I think about Heather. And I got some flower cookies and "Happy Birthday" candles too! Heather brought cupcakes, as well. So there was much celebration and we did feast on the yummy baked goods. Isn't that how everyone's birthday should be?